Taha'a "The Vanilla Island"

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Often called the “Vanilla Island”, Taha’a is also known as Raiatea’s sister island, as they both share the same lagoon. Located 230 km west of Tahiti, you can only access this island by boat. Usually, people fly to Raiatea and then from there, take one of the regular boat-shuttles that join the various villages around Taha’a.

Here, vanilla growing is the main activity so, wherever you go – at the top of Mount Ohiri, inside the deep bays or on the hidden roads under the flower-laden trees – the sweet aroma of vanilla lingers heavily in the air. 80% of the Polynesian production is harvested in Taha’a.

Thanks to a protected lagoon, one of the great activities is to have a tour of the island by boat. Of course, Taha’a is a paradise for sailors and divers who can explore the reef, swim with the dolphins and navigate between the deserted “motus” inside the multicoloured lagoon. If you are not much of a sailor, you can take a 4X4 safari tour and explore the wildness of Taha’a, or discover its very peaceful and colourful villages. Being the “Vanilla Island”, a must-do is the vanilla island tour, where you will have a chance to learn all about this fragrant spice, often known as the "black gold" of Taha’a.